IACP COOKBOOK WORKSHOP – Cookbook Proposal and Publishing Intensive

Join the and Senior Literary Agent, for this 2.5 hour cookbook publishing intensive. Two ticket tiers are available: one for a presenting participant and another for general admission.
Tier 1 – Presenting Ticket: Four participants will have the opportunity to workshop their book idea in front of the entire group session.
Tier 1 Cost: $225 per person
Registration Limit: 4 people
Come prepared with a 2-minute pitch outlining your cookbook idea (include title, sub-title, why you are writing the book, marketing ideas, and short summary). Participants may bring any written material from a working draft of a book proposal that they are willing to workshop in front of others. Please also bring 4-6 comp titles / samples that we will pull real time sales information on and discuss as a group.
Sally will provide detailed feedback on what works and offer suggestions for improvements and refinements of your pitch and select written material (as time permits). There will be a lively group discussion about the publishing industry at large through the 4 pitches presented.
Tier 2 – General Admission Ticket: The Tier Two General Admission ticket holder does not present to the group but dives deep into group discussion with questions and comments.
Tier 2 Cost: $125 per person
Registration Limit: 21 people
Listen to the pitch and feedback from Sally and network with other IACP colleagues committed to supporting one another’s publishing process. General admission tickets will have opportunities to ask questions throughout and also glean information from the resources Sally will be bringing to this session.
This workshop will help you:
• Understand what makes a cookbook pitch stand out
• Understand what makes a comprehensive cookbook proposal
• Know what agents and publishers look for when reviewing new cookbook ideas
• A list of resources will be provided to the group including where to find agents, research publishing information and deals
• Frame your cookbook concept to capture the attention of agents and publishers
• An insider look at comps including real time reviews of sales data that is only available to agents and editors
• Gain a deeper understanding of the cookbook publishing landscape
• Assess how much social media following translates to sales and “success” and more
About Sally Ekus
Sally Ekus is a Senior Literary Agent at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency where she spearheads The Ekus Group, a boutique culinary division specializing in cookbook and lifestyle titles. She represents a wide range of culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to seasoned chefs, RDs, professional food writers, bloggers, online creators, and journalists. From concept to contract, she has brokered over 320 book deals with top publishers including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and numerous indie publishers. Sally's Not So Secret Agent Substack newsletter unveils the secrets of cookbook publishing.

This workshop is part of the 2024 IACP Summit & Awards. Find out more about this event at:

Have questions about the IACP Cookbook Workshop? Email us at [email protected]

Host or Publisher IACP